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| Wyoming Wild |
This story is a Proper Romance, by one of my favorite authors!
Let’s begin with the summary:
Wyoming Territory, 1876
Hearts collide when a sheriff’s daughter asks a hardened US Marshal to join her fight for justice and rid a small town of her corrupt father.
US Marshal John “Hawk” Hawking is one of the most respected lawmen in the West—a fair but firm man of principle and decisive action—so when a telegram arrives from the small town of Sand Creek warning him of a death threat against him, he immediately begins an investigation.
Posing as a farmer, Hawk heads to Sand Creek, a town ruled by a violent and corrupt sheriff who uses his position to menace, exploit, and tax the townspeople to the point of starvation. Only one person is trying to stop him—Liesl, the sheriff’s own daughter. When she meets the self-assured and attractive new farmer, John, she hopes he might help her in her long and lonely fight for justice.
John is completely unfazed by Sheriff Hodges’s attempts at intimidation, and Liesl is quickly swept up by Hawk’s courage and integrity. Just as quickly, Hawk finds himself falling for Liesl’s strength and bravery, as well as her grace and beauty.
When Liesl discovers that John is not who he claims to be, she feels betrayed. Despite her lingering distrust of Hawk, Liesl agrees to work with him to enact a dangerous plan that will put the criminals away forever. Liesl must put her life, and her heart, in the hands of this lawman if she has any hope of saving her family and her town.
And now, my review:
Oh, I loved this story! Such a fun rom com. A perfect balance of humor, romance, and peril.
Our heroine is strong and courageous and wise. Our hero is a great strategist who risks his life to help others.
The story’s opening chapters begin with the hero going under cover. His characterization of John Butler (a farmer, see summary) is so much fun. This was my favorite aspect in the novel because he couldn’t remain in this character. Great tension! I enjoyed how the heroine and hero interacted while he played John. How he had to pretend to be naïve and yet he knew so much more than others thought—a mirror to how the heroine conducted every day of her life. Their chemistry was palpable.
Our heroine is a woman of mercy, reaching out to help others in danger, even though the threat is very close to home. She can be impetuous, and though the hero worries for her, he admires her as well.
I really enjoyed their interactions in these opening chapters—their banter and attraction. The author hooks us right away and keeps us engaged. Themes include mercy, nobility, sacrifice, service, and recognizing we all have different sides to ourselves. Which one will prevail?
The MCs have to outwit their opponent, and the conflict of the corrupt sheriff being the heroine’s own father (see summary) is excellent for providing tension.
Is the hero the gentle, undercover version of himself, John? Or is he the colder version of himself, Marshal Hawk. This inner conflict kept me reading because even Hawk was torn. Great characterization and layering!
Such a good read! This author is masterful at creating excellent wholesome romances, which is why I love her work.
Highly recommended!
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